Here at C&P, we are constantly updating our vintage furniture finds withChalk Paint®. There's no better or easier way to create that fabulous layered & aged look or to just brighten up a piece with a fresh new color. If you have an old piece of furniture (or decor!) that you can't or don't want to part with, but it's no longer working with your decor, we recommend giving Chalk Paint® a try!

We know that painting a piece of furniture for the first time can be intimidating, so here are a few steps to help you get started.

Step 1: Clean & prep your piece.

Wipe the entire piece with a damp cloth and then a dry cloth to remove all of the dust, etc. This will ensure that the paint will go on smoothly. In most cases, you are now ready to start painting! No sanding or priming required!

You could encounter dings and scratches that you wish to fill in. If this is the case, do so and then sand to smooth out the surface. Then clean that area.

If you're painting a piece and stain starts to bleed through and turn the painted areas pink, coat the piece with a thin layer of clear shellac, let dry, and paint again.

You'll also want to coat the piece with a thin layer of clear shellac if you're working with new, untreated wood. According to the Annie Sloan website, this will prevent bleeding from the tannins in the knots and open grains.

Step 2: Begin painting!

Brush the paint on the entire surface of the piece for your first coat. If you're planning to distress later, one fairly thick coat should work. Sometimes you need two coats, depending on the piece and how much coverage you prefer.

You can use any brush, but we really prefer using the Annie Sloan brushes when applying Chalk Paint®; they distribute paint evenly and do a great job getting into nooks and crannies.

If you're planning to wet-distress your piece, you'll want to do that in between steps 2 & 3. (We'll post a wet-distressing tutorial later.)

Step 3: Apply clear wax.

Finally, you'll want to finish your piece with the Annie Sloan Soft Wax. First apply the wax by "pushing" it into the the paint with a lint-free cotton cloth or brush and wiping off the excess with a separate clean cloth (We prefer white t-shirt rags. You can make your own or buy them at stores like Lowes or Home Depot). Then, just buff in the wax with the direction of your paint strokes until the area is smooth and has a bit of sheen. We recommend working in sections, as this does require quite a bit of elbow grease to get the surface as smooth as possible. The piece will be dry to the touch. You can use the piece, but will need to be careful as the wax will take 5-21 days to cure.

And that's it! We hope this helps you get started with all of those painting projects you've wanted to tackle. Stay tuned for tutorials on dark wax, wet distressing, and more! And of course, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us.